27 November 2019
Robert Bourns has received the City of London Law Society Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Legal Awards in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the legal profession.
The annual British Legal Awards aim to recognise achievements across the UK's thriving business law community. Hosted by Legal Week in association with The City of London Law Society, the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award is decided by the City of London Law Society Committee.
As managing partner of Trumps, Robert played a key role in the merger in 2000 with Lawrence Tucketts to create TLT, serving as managing partner and then senior partner until 2015, when he was elected the 172nd President of The Law Society of England & Wales.
As well as his leadership roles at TLT and The Law Society, Robert has been active across the legal profession and beyond. He has been a passionate advocate throughout his career of improving diversity and social mobility across the profession, which was a key component of his role as senior partner.
He is a trustee of a number of local and national charities, focusing on education and furthering the aspirations and ambitions of young people. In his home city of Bristol, Robert has a long track record of engagement with a projects such as the Quartet Community Foundation, Room 13 and Ablaze – a charity TLT continues to support.
Robert is currently Chair of the Board of the Law Society and has served on the Law Society's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He remains actively engaged in the debate around regulatory change in the legal profession.
In his speech to congratulate Robert on this industry recognition, Chair of The City of London Law Society Edward Sparrow commented on Robert's acute sense of public interest as demonstrated by his service to the wider profession.
The award was presented at the annual British Legal Awards event on Thursday 21st November 2019 at The Ballroom South Bank, London. Andrew Glynn, David Pester and John Wood also attended the event as guests of The City of London Law Society.